Vibratory reducing machine



Oct. 13, 1959 v. D. WARE 2,908,271

7 VIBRATORY REDUCING MACHINE Filed July 15, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet l Fig.8

Vernon D. Ware 1 N VE N TOR.

mm BY git/W Oct. 13, 1959 v. D. WARE VIBRATORY REDUCING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 15, 1958 R. m m m w m a 0. M m at m w w Y B w m m A 1\ E1 0 0 mm .K v wn mv mm vm wk mm E R vm E T! s s w v o A s A0 Q w A s s Q E vm .E wk 3 6 A? w wn 0 o a :E vm N N 9k 0m 9 Oct. 13, 1959 v. D. WARE VIBRA'I'ORY REDUCING MACHINE Filed July 15, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 /34 9 /34 M2 120 Fig.4 154 I26 &

Vernon 0. Ware 1N VENTOR.

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 15, 1958 Vernon 0. Ware 1N VEN TOR.

United States Patent VIBRATORY REDUCING MACHINE Vernon D. Ware, Kansas City, Kans. Application July 15, 1958, Serial No. 748,737

8 Claims. (Cl. 12833) The present invention generally relates to a vibratory machine and more particularly a machine in the form of a massage table for transmitting vibratory movement to a person resting on a table for massaging the muscles, slenderizing the same and generally providing benefits from suchvibration.

There have been provided previous devices for reducing and massaging persons but none of these devices has incorporating vibratory movement in a longitudinal plane, a transverse plane and a rotary plane at one and the same time. Accordingly, it is th primary object of the present invention to provide such a vibrating machine which will efiectively cause vibratory movement in all three planes and which incorporates in its construction three sections with each section having the identical vibrating mechanism with the center section being vertically movable from a position above the plane of the end section to a plane below the end sections.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a vibratory reducing machine which is extremely simple in construction, easy to use, beneficial and relatively inexpensive to manufacture and maintain. I These together with other objects and advantages which 'will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, reference is made to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the vibratory reduc ing machine of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the construction of Figure l;

. Figure 3 is a transverse, sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 3-3 of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a longitudinal, vertical sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 5-5 of Figure 1;

' Figure 6 is a sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 66 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a detailed sectional View on an enlarged Scale illustrating the bearing support for the table top;

" :Figure 8 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 8- -8 of Figure 3 illustrating the eccentric mechanism for producing one type of vibratory movement;

Figure 9 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale illustrating the manner of supporting the movable frame for .the table top; and

Figure 10 is a detailed sectional view illustrating the attachment of a connecting rod to the table top surface. Referring now specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates the vibratory reducing machine of the present invention which includes three sections which will be designated as end sections 12 and 14 and a central section .1 6 all of which are supported on a common supporting frame of angle iron construction generally designated by the numeral 18 and including longitudinal support rails 20 and transverse support rails 22. Depending corner legs 24 are provided and the corner legs are interconnected by braces 26. Depending central legs 28 are also provided and the central legs 28 and the corner legs 24 are interconnected by crossed braces 30. Each section 1216 is the same as to the vibratory mech anism but the central section 16 is vertically adjustable from a position one and one-half inches above the end sections to a position four inches below the end sections and it is pointed out that the scope of vertical movement of the center section may be varied.

The mechanism for elevating the central section includes four corner tubular members 32 supported from the respective central legs 28 by inwardly extending brackets 34. The tubular members 32 are interconnected by longitudinal and transverse angle iron brace members 36 which are disposed at the upper and lower ends of the tubular members 32 thus forming a rigid support assembly rigid with the central legs 28.

Slidably disposed in each of the tubular members 32 is a supporting rod 38 which slides in the tubular members and which has the upper end thereof connected to and supporting a support plate 40. Adjacent each side edge of the support plate '40 is a pair of depending lugs 42 having an elongated connecting rod 44 connected thereto with the other end of the connecting rod being connected to the laterally extending lug 46 on an elongated -rocker shaft 48 supported on suitable bearings 50 on the tubular members '32. vOne end of each of the rocker shafts 48 extends beyond the tubular members 32 and is provided with a worm gear 52 in meshing engagement with a worm drive pinion 54 on an elongated operating shaft 56 with the worm drive pinion 54 being located adjacent to opposite ends of the shaft 56. The shaft 56 is rotatably supported in bearing blocks 58 supported on one pair of central legs 28 and is provided with a wheel 60 on' the outer end thereof provided with an eccentric handle 62 for rotation of the shaft 56 thus causing rotation of the worm drive pinion 54 thus rotating both of the pinion gears 52 and rotating both the shafts 48 about the longitudinal axis thus raising and lowering the support plate 49 vertically in response to rotation of the hand wheel 60. Due to the construction of the worm gear mechanism, the support plate 40 will be supported in desired adjusted position. Each of the sections 12 and 14 are also provided with a support plate 40 with these sections and supporting plates not having the adjustment mechanism including the support rods 38 and the lugs 42 and connecting rods 44 and associate mechanism with the simplified construction of the plates 40 and the end sections being clearly shown in Figure 2.

The vibration producing mechanism includes a relatively narrow and elongated channel shaped bracket 64 having upturned ends 66 secured to the supporting plate 40 by suitable fasteners 68. Centrally in the bracket 64 there is provided a depending sleeve or bearing 7 0 rigidified by reinforcing gusset plates 72 and which rotatably receives a vertical shaft 74 having an enlarged pulley 76 thereon of the V-belt type which receives a V-belt 78 which is also entrained over a pulley 80 on the drive shaft 82 of an electric motor 84 mounted on a depending bracket 86 also rigidly secured to the channel shaped bracket 64 as by welding or the like. Thus, when the motor 84 is energized, the shaft 74 will be rotated about its longitudinal axis. The sleeve 70 extends through the channel shaped bracket 64 and is secured thereto as by welding 88. Attached to the upper end of the shaft 74 is an eccentric sleeve 90 having an eccentric pin 92 ex- .3 tending longitudinally therefrom in spaced parallel relation to the axis of the drive shaft 74. The pin 92 extends through an enlarged opening 94 in the supporting plate 40 and is received in a tubular socket 96 defined by a depending'cylindrical member98 with a bearing 100 disposed between the pin 92 and the cylindrical member 98 thus journaling the pin 92 in the socket 96. The cylindrical member 98 is connected to across member 102 as by welding 104. The cross member 102 is a part of a table frame which is generally designated by the numeral 106 and which includes a peripheral eye beam member having a lower flange 108 and an upper flange 110 interconnected by a vertical flange 112. The member 102 interconnects the lower flange 108 and extends horizontally between the end edges of the table frame 106. Thus as the motor 84 rotates the shaft 74, the pin 92 will be caused to move in a circular path of movement about a center defined by the center of rotation of the shaft 74 thus moving the table frame 106 in the same direction.

Reference is made to Figures 3 and 4 for illustrating the manner in which the table frame 106 is supported on the support plate 40. This is by virtue of a plurality of spherical balls 114 which engage the undersurface of the lower flange 108 and which are received in sockets 116 in the upper surface of the support plate 40 thus .movably supporting the table frame 106. The sockets 116 are of such a size that the ball members 114 may roll back and forth therein a limited amount.

Disposed in overlying relation to the table frame 106 is a table top member 118 which is provided with a foam rubber cushion 120 which has depending side flanges 122 with the cushion 120 and flanges 122 being covered with a waterproof fabric material or the like which is designated by the numeral 124 and which may be of any suitable construction and of any suitable color. The foam rubber cushion 120 may be secured to the table top member 118 in any suitable manner such as by bonding, by adhesive or the like.

Reference is made to Figure 7 to illustrate the manner in which the table top member 118 is supported from the upper flange 110 of the table frame 106 and this construction includes a plurality of ball members 126 each of which rests against the flat upper surface of the upper flange 110 and which is received in a horizontally enlarged socket 128 which is relatively shallow thus permitting limited movement of the table top member 118 in relation to the table frame 106.

The table top member 118 is resiliently centralized in relation to the table top frame 106 by a plurality of spring members 130 which interconnect the diagonal members 102 and the table top member 118 and which extend in upwardly diverging relation to each other and which are secured to the table top member 118 by eye members 132.

As shown in Figure 6, the undersurface of the table top member 118 is provided with a motor 134 driving a pulley 136 and supported from a bracket 138 which extends laterally and is connected to the vertical web 112 of the frame 106 as clearly shown in Figure 3. The pulley 136 drives a V-belt 140 mounted on a pulley 142 on an idler shaft 144 also journaled on the bracket 138 by virtue of a bearing 146. The other end of the'idler shaft 144 is provided with an eccentric 148 having a connecting rod 150 connected therewith. The connecting rod 150 is connected to an eccentric 152 rigid with a rocker shaft 154. The rocker shaft 154 is supported on brackets 156 carried by the web and upper flange of the table frame 106. The rock shaft 154 is provided with a pair of'depending lugs 158 having a transverse pin 160 connecting the same with the transverse pin having a ball member 162 mounted thereon with a partial bearing 164 encircling the ball 162 and receiving one end of a connecting rod 166 which is received on a similar ball-168 at the other end thereof with a similar bearing 170 being interposed between the connecting rod and the ball 168 A transverse pin 172 extends through the ball 170 and is supported from a U-shaped bracket 174 which is inverted and which is rigidly secured to the table top member 118 by a fastening member 176. As clearly shown in Figure 6, the rock shaft 154 operates two connecting rods. This will impart a reciprocatory motion to the table top member 118 in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the motor 134 and axis of rotation of the shaft 154.

For producing reciprocatory motion of the table top member 118 in the other direction, that is parallel to the axis of rotation of the motor 134, there is provided an identical mechanism as previously described with the same reference numerals being employed but with the reference numerals having a primed characteristic. The only difference is in the fact that one bracket 174 is elongated so that two of the connecting rods 166 may intersect each other in a different horizontal plane without interference which will necessitate one pair of eccentrics or lugs 160' on the shaft 154' to be longer.

With the present invention, the central section may be raised and lowered and each of the sections will have a vibratory movement imparted thereto with the vibratory movement including a movement of the supporting plate 40 in a generally circular manner which will impart a portion of this circular movement to the sub-frame 106 and to the table top member 118. In addition, the table top member 118 is reciprocated in a longitudinal manner and in a transverse manner simultaneously by independent electric motors 134 and 134'. The resilient springs retain the table top member 118 centralized on the top frame 106 and generally increase the effectiveness of the vibration produced by the various mechanisms.

Adequate controls may be provided for driving the various electric motors at a desired speed and the device may be constructed of readily accessible materials thus rendering the same relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A reducing machine comprising a supporting stand, a support plate mounted on said stand, a top frame mounted on the support plate for limited relative movement, a table top member mounted on said top frame and drive means supported from the support plate and eccentrically connected to the top frame for movement of the top frame in relation to the supporting plate, said top frame having a pair of drive motors mounted thereon, a power shaft drivingly connected with each motor with the driving shafts being arranged in perpendicular relation, eccentric connecting rods connecting the perpendicular drive shafts with the top member thus providing reciprocatory motion in four directions.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said top frame is in the form of a peripheral eye beam of lightweight construction.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said top'frame is separated from the support plate by a plurality of ball bearings, the upper flange of the top frame being separated from the top member by a plurality' of ball members.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said support plate is vertically adjustably mounted on the frame.

5. A vibratory machine comprising a supporting frame, a table top frame mounted on said frame for limited movement in a horizontal plane, power means supported from the supporting frame and drivingly connected eccentrically to the table top frame for moving the table top frame in a circular path in a horizontal plane, a table top member supported on said table top frame for limited movement in a horizontal plane, a cushion on the upper surface of the table top member, spring means interconnecting the top member and the table top frame for resiliently centralizing the top member on the table top frame, power means mounted on the table top frame and drivingly connected with the table top member for reciprocating the table top member in a longitudinal horizontal plane, and separate power means mounted on the table top frame and drivingly connected to the table top member for reciprocating the table top member in a transverse horizontal plane, the movement of the table top frame in a circular path being transmited to the table top member through the spring means for moving the table top member in a circular path and reciprocating the same in perpendicular horizontal planes.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said table top frame includes a generally horizontal framework having a peripheral frame member of I-beam configuration having upper and lower flanges, diagonal braces extending between the lower flanges, said spring means including a plurality of inclined coil springs interconnecting the braces and the table top member.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said supporting frame is provided with a supporting plate having a plurality of depending rods, sleeves mounted on the supporting frame slidably receiving said rods and guiding vertical movement of the plate, and means interconnecting the plate and supporting frame for raising or lowering the plate, said plate supporting the table top frame whereby the height of the cushion may be varied by varying the position of the plate.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein a plurality of ball members is disposed between the plate and the lower flange of the I-beam and between the upper flange of the I-beam and the table top member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,856,917 Mack Oct. 21, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 531,088 Great Britain Dec. 30, 1940 

